title: Effects of oral nutritional support in hospitalized patients with AIDS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The emergence of more effective therapies for the treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has reduced the rates of illness, mortality and malnutrition among infected patients. However, reduced food intake, nutrient malabsorption and metabolic alterations induced by fever and infection are seen in cases of hospital malnutrition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of oral nutritional support (ONS) on hospitalized patients with AIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following variables were analyzed: weight, body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold (TSF), arm circumference (AC), arm muscle circumference (AMC), albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit and total serum lymphocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements were found in weight, BMI, TSF, AC, albumin and lymphocytes after 19.27 ± 7.45 days of ONS, whereas no significant improvements were found in AMC, hemoglobin or hematocrit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary intervention with nutritional counseling and the use of supplements led to an improvement in the nutritional status of malnourished individuals with AIDS, but with an increase in adipose tissue and no impact on lean muscle mass or anemia.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Service, Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pereira da Silva
authors.forename: Isis Lucilia
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Santos Borges de Araújo
authors.forename: Poliana
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coelho Cabral
authors.forename: Maria Goretti
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pessoa de Araújo Burgos
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D055815:Young Adult